Written by Mr. Mouseburger 23rd May 2008

Spartacus is the gladiator slave and leader of a slave army which has successfully fought its way through Italy to the coast where, it is hoped, the army can escape to freedom with the help of Cilician pirates. However, Crassus has bribed the Cilicians to betray Spartacus, and so he and his army are left trapped between the might of three Roman armies.

Unsurprisingly, the odds are too great for the slaves, and they are defeated heavily, although there are many survivors. Crassus is aware of the camerarderie of the slave army, and so he makes a deal with them; break ranks and reveal the identity of their leader, Spartacus, or all be executed.


Being a noble man, Spartacus has no intention of seeing his men executed for his deeds and so stands up and prepares to say "I am Spartacus". Before he can do this though, another man stands up, "I am Spartacus" he cries. Then another stands up, "I am Spartacus", then another, then another. Soon there are scores of people standing up declaring they are Spartacus, in one of cinema's truly emotive scenes.

At a loss to identify Spartacus, Crassus orders them all to be crucified, along the Appian way (a road that leads into Rome). Ultimately this means Spartacus is strung up with his comrades, and he dies, alongside his friends.